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The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

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Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#41

Post by Aeolun »

CiceroCiceronis wrote: post #21

Metabolism (the architectural movement that underpinned the Capsule Tower) fascinates me because of its grand scope, one that sought to build an entire society that would suit the needs of the modern person. A building like the Capsule Tower was only a small part of a totalising vision which included ideas for reimagining the Tokyo Bay with vast arcologies. For those interested in Metabolism a fascinating book on the…

The lowest price I can find is $155 on Amazon. Is there any place I can still find this book?

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#42

Post by Aeolun »

GekkePrutser wrote: post #12
teruakohatu wrote: post #7

It reminds me of Canada's Habitat 67, which is also made up of prefabricated concrete rooms and sealed bathroom units. Designed as cheap housing for the future, it is now luxery housing but residents have to put up with similar problems such as a pipe burst in one apartment causes major problems. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_67

In the Netherlands they use converted shipping containers as student housing. Also stacked fairly randomly and in different colours. Looked really cool. There was one such complex nearby where I lived. But it didn't turn out well, because of the cheap and fairly indestructible accomodations, the rental agencies filled these up with 'problematic' tenants rather than students and it turned into a slum pretty quickly. T…

I used to live in something similar to a converted container [1], but designed as housing (also in the Netherlands), we didn’t have any such problems, and the containers were still going strong when they were removed to make space for new developments.

I’m still nostalgic for that space. It was my first experience living alone, and a great one at that.

[1]: http://www.tombrands.nl/Spaceboxen_gemeente_Apeldoorn/mini-4...

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#43

Post by Aeolun »

doggodaddo78 wrote: post #26

When you design for architectural and humanist ideals only, but don't design for maintenance or renovation, then any claims of renovation, renewal, or timelessness are moot, wishful, unattained aspirations. Practicality first, then form, because a building in a high-value area has to be fundamentally useful or it becomes a spectacle, art, and/or blight.

I guess originally it was not a high value area.

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#44

Post by nicolas_t »

I always wanted to stay in the airbnb from that building to actually feel what it would be like to live there. What stopped me though is the fact that there's asbestos and that the conditions of the capsule were bad enough that I could end up inhaling some asbestos. How much of a concern is that really? You hear such horror stories about Asbestos but given how widely used it was and how little care was taken to demolish certain buildings in countries like China, I would expect a lot more people affect with Mesothelioma if all it took were a few fibers finding their way into people's lungs?

So for anyone with the medical knowledge, was that a valid concern of mine or just a paranoia that prevented me from experiencing a building I've always been fascinated with before its disappearance?

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#45

Post by ekianjo »

nicolas_t wrote: post #44

I always wanted to stay in the airbnb from that building to actually feel what it would be like to live there. What stopped me though is the fact that there's asbestos and that the conditions of the capsule were bad enough that I could end up inhaling some asbestos. How much of a concern is that really? You hear such horror stories about Asbestos but given how widely used it was and how little care was taken to demol…

Asbestos is mainly a concern in particulate form and therefore more for construction workers. Staying one night will have no impact on your health.

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#46

Post by rbg246 »

papaf wrote: post #29
rbg246 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having a total of 20 supersonic airlines wasn't exactly common place. And spending 1.5% of your GDP to send like ten people to the moon probably isn't that great an achievement from a cost benefit analysis (I know there will be fierce disagreement). Not taking away from how amazing those things are but we have billions of computers that connect most people in the world together which in my opinion just insanely amazi…

Not taking away from how amazing those things are but we have billions of computers that connect most people in the world together which in my opinion just insanely amazing. The 70s looks at your example of progress, thinks of it as a big ARPANET and is not impressed.

Scale is everything though - great technology is nothing without reach

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#47

Post by ekianjo »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #2

Travelling to the 70s must feel like going to the future: these futuristic capsule buildings existed, supersonic air travel was commonplace, and there were humans travelling to the moon. The epitome of modernity these days is how fast your car videos can load.

> supersonic air travel was commonplace,

Only if you had deep pockets

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#48

Post by rbg246 »

masswerk wrote: post #15
rbg246 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having a total of 20 supersonic airlines wasn't exactly common place. And spending 1.5% of your GDP to send like ten people to the moon probably isn't that great an achievement from a cost benefit analysis (I know there will be fierce disagreement). Not taking away from how amazing those things are but we have billions of computers that connect most people in the world together which in my opinion just insanely amazi…

That these planes were operated only by BA and Air France (and a similar plane to some extent by Aeroflot) was merely an accident. Concorde was developed as a mass transport and there was broad interest. Then the US ban and the oil crisis happened.

Yes but this is my point is there are great reasons why concorde failed but equally it's technology was not enough of progress to overcome the fact that 747s could do things at much greater scale and more economically.

The reach of aeroplane travel is far more impressive now than flying under a 100 people at supersonic speeds.

I also dispute that there was mass transport plans - the total passenger load was tiny.

Not to take away that the plane itself is an amazing piece of technology.

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#49

Post by loloquwowndueo »

loloquwowndueo wrote: post #2

Travelling to the 70s must feel like going to the future: these futuristic capsule buildings existed, supersonic air travel was commonplace, and there were humans travelling to the moon. The epitome of modernity these days is how fast your car videos can load.

Edit: CAT videos. I meant to say cat videos :)

Re: The Last Days of Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower

#50

Post by frxx »

cody_ellingham wrote: post #8

I published a photobook 'Danchi Dreams' in 2018 that captured the massive Japanese apartment blocks from the same era as Nakagin. The apartment buildings, known as 'danchi', were constructed from the 1960s - 1980s to replace burnt-out cities and house a booming population. Though they might not be quite as spectacular as what the Metabolists dreamed up I think they shared a forward-looking vision for what the modern…

I've known about your book for quite some time, though I don't own it. Nontheless, fantastic photography on the website!
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